MARK Delaney should finally make his comeback on Monday after missing the first four months of the season with a knee injury.

MARK Delaney should finally make his comeback on Monday after missing the first four months of the season with a knee injury.

The Wales international is expected to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Wolves at Bodymoor Heath.

Labelled as 'Villa's forgotten man' by Martin O'Neill he could yet save the Villa boss a fortune in the January window as he seeks to put Olof Mellberg back in the centre of defence.

Delaney has excelled in fitness workouts with the physios and is ready to step in with the rest of the senior squad next week. He said: "I've done a bit of training with the lads and thankfully there's not been a reaction although I was feeling a bit stiff.

"The manager is hoping I can play in the game with Wolves next week and it's something for me to aim at. If I can manage to get through that unscathed it will be another step forward.

"In an ideal world being fit at this juncture of the season would be great because everyone is aware of how many games have to be played in a short space of time.

"The more people available, the better it is. But I don't want to get carried away and start talking about the first team at this stage."

Despite having made the bench against Newcastle in August, and playing for his country against the Czech

Republic a month later, his last Villa game was against Manchester City in the FA Cup way back in February.

Delaney is full of praise for the manager and the support the boss has given him.

"There has been no bigger person speaking to me when I have been injured - you can easily be forgotten when you are injured."

Delaney has the rest of this season on his deal and admits it would be a wrench to leave.